Page 69 of Seasoned with Love (Prosperity Ranch 4)

“Like what?”

She shrugged. “Like if you were really going to come. If you’d hug me in greeting. Or if you’d be happy to see me. You know, all the ifs.” She glanced at him again, then away. “If you really like me.”

“And now?”

“I guess you’re here, aren’t you, and you did hug me. And you’re being flirty, which means you do like me.”

Roman smiled. “I already told you I like you, but I can keep telling you.”

“Okay, that would be nice.” She was teasing, but she obviously wouldn’t have said anything if she wasn’t worried about it.

“I had a lot of ifs, too,” he said. “Still do.”

They slowed at a light, and Cara met his gaze. “Like what?”

“Will you get sick of me in a few hours? Or a few minutes?” After she laughed, he said, “When you get to know me better, will you decide I’m not worth the trouble? Do you like me, or the idea of dating a film producer? Not that it’s an ego thing, but some people get caught up in that type of stuff.”

Cara didn’t seem offended. “If you were a chef, I’d still like you.”

“What about the dishwasher?”

She laughed, and it was a lovely sound. With a shake of her head, she pulled forward. “It would depend.”

“On what?”

“If Mia was still your daughter,” she said. “That would help me with deciding if I wanted to date a dishwasher. Wait, are you a high school graduate? Maybe a college student, working your way through?”

“I could be,” Roman said. “Although I’m a little old for following the old college dream, again.”

“All right, you’d definitely need Mia as your sidekick.”

“Noted.” Roman reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers, because they were on a boulevard right now, and if he could drive with one hand, couldn’t she? “I like that you like Mia, and that she’s sort of a requirement.”

“Mia is amazing. Adorable and spunky.”

“That she is, but she’s also a handful.”

“Mmm.” Cara shrugged. “She wears her heart on her sleeve, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with it,” Roman said. “Not to me. But she’s my daughter, and well, maybe I’m willing to deal with more than say . . . a girlfriend would?”

Cara didn’t answer for a bit as she navigated into another lane, then turned onto the street where his hotel was located. “If you’re asking me to be your girlfriend, Mr. De Marco, that was really lame.”

Roman burst out with a laugh. “Is that so?”

She pulled into the valet area, stopped, and turned to him. “Mia’s a darling girl. If you think I’m going to shy away from a few ups and downs with dating a guy with a kid, then you don’t know me that well.”

“Did you just agree to be my girlfriend?”

Cara’s smile appeared. “Maybe?”

He undid his seat belt and leaned toward her. He’d put off kissing her long enough. Gently, he cradled her face, and when her eyelids fluttered closed, he pressed his mouth against hers.

There was probably at least one valet as witness, but Roman no longer cared. Cara tasted of sweetness and sunshine and promises he hoped to make. He loved the way she kissed him back and made him feel like she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

When she tried to press closer, she was stopped by her seat belt. She laughed and drew away. “I think we have an audience.”

Roman glanced at the windshield.

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